Chapter 349 : Golden Lotus
Chapter 349: Golden Lotus
The spreading golden light gathered into one and formed a certain shape.
'This is...'
What appeared before Jang Woo-hyun was the golden lotus that Son Goku had given him when he underwent Ascension.
"Kyaahahaha!"
"Wahahahaha!"
Frivolous laughter echoed from within the lotus.
The voices were different, yet somehow similar. They belonged to people Jang Woo-hyun knew well.
The fist-sized golden lotus rapidly grew larger as it bloomed. It opened in full, its petals falling away until only the eight innermost petals remained.
【Disappear.】
【Not happening!】
Just as the Sword Cultivation Immortal Emperor tried to cut the petals apart, the Black Darkness Immortal Emperor stepped in to block him.
As the Immortal Emperor who controlled space, the Black Darkness Immortal Emperor surpassed the others in defensive ability. Every attack aimed at the petals was completely intercepted.
The eight petals radiated an intense brilliance.
【Now this is finally getting interesting.】
As though his task was complete, the Black Darkness Immortal Emperor fled without even looking back.
Where the glowing lotus petals vanished...
Eight radiant figures appeared in the Upper Realm, each surrounded by halos.
Beginning with the Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven, the Bull Demon King.
The Chaos-Heaven Great Sage, the Roc Demon King.
The Mountain-Shifting Great Sage, the Lion Camel King.
The Wind-Passing Great Sage, the Monkey King.
The Exorcising Great Sage, the Macaque Demon King.
Son Goku, the Victorious Fighting Buddha of the Buddha Realm.
The absolute ruler of the Central Heavens, the Heavenly Demon Lord, Si Cheonma Muk Geom-young.
And finally, the protector of the Central Heavens Martial World, Jang Sambong.
"How... is this even possible...?"
Jang Woo-hyun stood there blankly with his mouth hanging open.
The sudden turn of events and the completely unexpected arrivals.
How had those who had been fighting one another in the Demonic Spirit Realm suddenly appeared here?
Moreover, this was not the Middle Realm, but the Upper Realm.
While Jang Woo-hyun remained stunned, the five Immortal Emperors immediately recognized the newcomers as enemies and launched their attacks.
Naturally, the other side moved to retaliate.
"Kyaahahaha!"
The monkey demon with softly glowing white fur—
The Wind-Passing Great Sage leaped forward with a grin stretching from ear to ear.
The Roc Demon King spread his wings and seized control of space.
The Lion Camel King dragged five or six distant stars toward himself before hurling them like weapons.
The Macaque Demon King supported his brothers with his mystical arts.
Finally, the Bull Demon King reached out his hand.
Behind every Great Monster floated a radiant halo, emitting a gentle divine glow.
At that moment, they possessed power equal to that of True Immortals or Martial Gods.
After the five Great Monsters launched their assault...
Muk Geom-young and Jang Sambong's martial arts illuminated outer space like the Milky Way itself.
"Brother Jang, we meet again."
The youngest of the Seven Great Sages, Son Goku, who alone had yet to attack, approached Jang Woo-hyun.
His fur also emitted a soft radiance.
A halo floated behind his back, and the power emanating from him was nothing like before.
"...I don't understand what's happening. How did all of you suddenly appear?"
"What else? We made preparations too."
Son Goku pointed his Ruyi Staff toward the five Immortal Emperors.
"Which bastard is it? The one trying to manipulate the world however he pleases."
"So... you already knew?"
"No, I didn't. But it looks like the old folks on our side realized something strange was going on."
For a brief moment, the faint silhouette of a woman appeared behind Son Goku before fading away.
"We've been preparing to deal with the one manipulating all destinies and controlling the world at will. We've been waiting for the right opportunity, and that's why we appeared now."
Within the Buddha Realm, beneath the First Buddha, Lotus Supreme Heaven, existed eight beings known as the Eight-Petal Gods, or the Eight-Petal Kings.
The eight lotus petals that had just radiated light symbolized both them and their power.
"You could say the Eight-Petal Gods are our leaders. Unlike the other Middle Realms, they don't occupy their positions through strength. Anyway, they're the Buddhas who represent the Buddha Realm."
To help Jang Woo-hyun, the Eight-Petal Gods stepped down from their seats and placed the Six Great Sages, Muk Geom-young, and Jang Sambong in their positions.
Then they gathered all the power of the Buddha Realm and divided it among the eight of them.
As a result, the six Great Monsters and the two masters of the Six Heavens, having received the power of an entire world, were able to ascend into the Upper Realm.
It was a shortcut impossible anywhere else—
A privilege unique to the Buddha Realm, whose duty was to oversee and maintain the worlds.
【I cannot comprehend this. Have they drawn upon the entire power of the Buddha Realm? They even seated them upon the thrones of the Eight-Petal Gods?】
The Sword Cultivation Immortal Emperor, who had lived the longest, immediately grasped the situation even as the battle continued.
【Fools. At this rate, the Buddha Realm itself may disappear. What is your purpose?】
"The purpose, you bastard, is that you think we'd just sit back while you pulled your little tricks?!"
Hearing the Sword Cultivation Immortal Emperor's words from afar, Son Goku shouted furiously.
After cursing a few more times, he turned back toward Jang Woo-hyun.
"We don't have much time. Five Immortal Emperors? No... six if we count the one who ran away. Brother Jang, which one is it? Or are they all involved?"
Jang Woo-hyun shook his head.
"I don't know for certain. They suddenly came back to life. There's one True Immortal who orchestrated everything, but that bastard..."
In his shock over the sudden developments, he had lost track of the Three Thousand Radiant Silver Treasure Heavenly Venerable.
The one who had been standing beside the throne had vanished without him noticing.
'Did he run away?'
Even during his battle with Lee Tae-seong, that bastard had faked his own death.
If he had a purpose, hiding himself would not be difficult.
"The True Immortal disappeared. Let's destroy that strange heart first, then we'll talk."
"Take this first."
Son Goku handed him a peach.
It was the Heavenly Peach he had previously given to the Wind-Passing Great Sage.
"It won't help as much now that you're this strong, Brother Jang, but it'll at least restore you somewhat. You destroy the heart and find that True Immortal. We'll handle the rest over there. There's a good chance they're all working together anyway. Besides, since they're charging at us like this, we have to deal with them."
Son Goku pointed toward the five Immortal Emperors fighting the Seven Great Sages.
"If you need help, call us immediately."
The Seven Great Sages, Muk Geom-young, and Jang Sambong had forcibly elevated their cultivation realms.
Even against Immortal Emperors who had not fully revived, they could not gain an easy advantage.
Once Son Goku rejoined the battle after finishing his conversation with Jang Woo-hyun, the previously unbalanced battle finally reached equilibrium.
As though everything had been perfectly arranged beforehand, both sides possessed nearly identical strength.
KWAAANG!!
The clash between the five Immortal Emperors, the Seven Great Sages, Muk Geom-young, and Jang Sambong shook the entire Upper Realm.
The world shattered.
The black expanse of outer space tore apart.
Beyond the broken gaps lay a chaotic world where time and space intertwined alongside endless void.
It was the outside of the world they currently inhabited.
As beings possessing power equal to the Immortal Emperors continued to collide, the cracks spread wider and wider.
At this rate, the world known as the Upper Realm itself seemed as though it would vanish.
Watching the battle for a moment, Jang Woo-hyun frowned.
Allies had arrived to save him in the midst of the crisis.
They were not even losing.
Yet an inexplicable sense of unease sprouted deep within his chest.
'What's wrong with me?'
Even after examining both his body and inner state, he found nothing unusual.
Still burdened by that growing anxiety, Jang Woo-hyun approached the multicolored heart.
Its strength appeared exhausted now.
Only the faintest heartbeat remained.
He swung Baekmu.
The heart shattered into pieces.
The enormous mass of power that had revived the Immortal Emperors disappeared.
He thought he had finished one important task.
Yet strangely, the unease only grew stronger.
'I have to find him.'
The source of that anxiety had to be the Three Thousand Radiant Silver Treasure Heavenly Venerable.
He had no idea what that suddenly vanished bastard was planning.
To find the missing True Immortal, the Martial God's vision swept across the endless universe.
'Nothing.'
The Three Thousand Radiant Silver Treasure Heavenly Venerable had hidden himself as though he had never existed.
It was as if he had disappeared somewhere no one could find him.
'Should I eliminate them first?'
Perhaps that would be better.
Reducing the enemy's numbers would surely be more useful than wasting time searching for the True Immortal.
KUUUUNG!!
Another section of the universe collapsed.
Beyond the black cosmos appeared a chaotic dimension where violet, black, and white swirled together.
Although almost no time had passed between speaking with Son Goku and destroying the heart, one entire side of the universe had already been destroyed.
Before going to aid his allies, Jang Woo-hyun searched once more for traces of the Three Thousand Radiant Silver Treasure Heavenly Venerable.
He expanded his senses.
Passing through the shattered regions of space, he surveyed the planetary systems and countless stars.
Once again...
He found nothing.
His anxiety continued to grow.
The unsettling feeling doubled.
He also felt as though he had overlooked something.
'Let's think this through one more time.'
Unable to shake off the unease, he recalled everything he knew about his enemy.
'The Three Thousand Radiant Silver Treasure Heavenly Venerable.'
The being worshipped by the Ascension Cult.
He had interfered during Ascension using an Avatar and had even sent down a gigantic hand into the Middle Realm.
'Silver Radiant Thousand Hands.'
A gigantic True Immortal with countless hands.
The Vanguard of the Palace of Myriad Immortals.
Unlike his title as the one who never retreated, the one Jang Woo-hyun had encountered had been nothing more than a despicable schemer.
'Anything else?'
He recalled every trivial piece of information he had gathered until now.
Nothing stood out.
Still, Jang Woo-hyun continued digging through his memories.
Then...
He remembered a conversation he had once had with White Eye.
—Silver Radiant Thousand Hands. A True Immortal possessing a silver giant body. He is the [Gauntlet of an Immortal Emperor] and serves as the Vanguard of the Palace of Myriad Immortals. Do you know what an Immortal Emperor is?
—Silver Radiant Thousand Hands claims to be the Dharma Treasure of one such Immortal Emperor. That's why he is called the [Gauntlet of an Immortal Emperor].
Only now did something he had considered unimportant return to him.
The Gauntlet of an Immortal Emperor.
'Whose Dharma Treasure did he claim to be?'
Even within Lee Tae-seong's memories, that bastard had never been used as a gauntlet.
He had acted independently and, in the end, had simply been destroyed by Lee Tae-seong.
Sensing something was wrong, Jang Woo-hyun moved immediately.
Crossing space itself, he attacked the Sword Cultivation Immortal Emperor, who was fighting Jang Sambong.
The Sword Cultivation Immortal Emperor blocked his sword with ease.
"Whose gauntlet is Silver Radiant Thousand Hands?"
The sudden question delayed the Sword Cultivation Immortal Emperor's answer by a moment.
【...Why would that matter?】
"It matters. Not just to me—but to all of you."
Though brief, his words allowed the Sword Cultivation Immortal Emperor to realize that something had gone terribly wrong.
Jang Woo-hyun was neither pretending nor trying to deceive him.
His urgency was genuine.
【Silver Radiant Thousand Hands was the Dharma Treasure of the Infinite Immortal Emperor.】
The Infinite Immortal Emperor.
Like the Sword Cultivation Immortal Emperor, he had cultivated a body refinement technique and possessed strength comparable to a Martial God.
However...
He had never been revived.
'Why?'
If that was the being worshipped by the Three Thousand Radiant Silver Treasure Heavenly Venerable, shouldn't he have been revived first?
Was it because he couldn't be controlled?
Or was there another objective?
'Did he leave him out because the Infinite Immortal Emperor might have used him instead?'
Or perhaps revival itself had been impossible.
'If that's true... were the others somehow still capable of being revived?'
Even after being attacked by Lee Tae-seong?
Countless thoughts collided within his mind.
But every possibility was merely speculation.
There was no evidence.
No certainty.
As countless thoughts flooded Jang Woo-hyun's mind...
The Sword Cultivation Immortal Emperor unexpectedly gave him a simple answer.
【Though it was rare, he also served as the gauntlet of the Black Darkness Immortal Emperor.】
"What?"
At those words, Jang Woo-hyun's eyes widened as though they would split apart.
An icy chill shot through his Yongchun acupoints and pierced his entire body like frozen needles.
The Black Darkness Immortal Emperor.
That bastard had been helping him all this time.
He had even known, through the mysterious Golden Lotus that Jang Woo-hyun himself barely understood, that the Seven Great Sages and the two martial artists would arrive here.
The Three Thousand Radiant Silver Treasure Heavenly Venerable had revived the Immortal Emperors.
The Black Darkness Immortal Emperor had helped those empowered by the Buddha Realm arrive here.
As though they absolutely had to come.
There had been something else strange as well.
'Why didn't I find it strange when he approached me?'
Jang Woo-hyun's usual philosophy was simple—
Whenever he encountered a cultivator, he crushed their skull on sight.
Naturally, the Immortal Emperors were also cultivators from the Cultivation Realm.
The moment that bastard had approached him, he should have attacked or killed him immediately.
Yet before he even realized it...
He had calmly begun talking with him.
'Don't tell me...'
The seed of unease that had sprouted within his heart had now grown into a gigantic tree, sinking its roots throughout his entire body.
【Oops. You caught on.】
A childish voice echoed through the air.
The revival of the Immortal Emperors.
The Buddha Realm's intervention.
Everything had unfolded exactly as planned upon that bastard's game board.
【But what are you going to do? It's already too late.】
Not far away floated a black sphere with a mouth.
Watching the frozen Jang Woo-hyun, the black sphere continued speaking.
【Why did you assume there was only one of me?】
'Me.' Jang Woo-hyun immediately understood who that referred to.
The Three Thousand Radiant Silver Treasure Heavenly Venerable was an Avatar of the Great Luo Emperor Who Destroys Heaven.
The Three Thousand Radiant Silver Treasure Heavenly Venerable himself had also used an Avatar to obstruct those attempting Ascension.
There was no reason an Avatar had to exist as only one.
【Preparations are complete.】
The playful voice of a young boy rang in Jang Woo-hyun's ears like a horrifying scream.